Figure 1.

SEM images of the pore structure of the PDLLA scaffolds prepared by lyophilization and subsequent salt leaching methods. Porosity characterized by three zones (Z1, Z2 and Z3) through the cross-section of the scaffold samples: (a) PDLLA and (b) PLA/30-BG. Small pores (10–60 μm, indicated with arrows) interconnecting larger pores (100–400 μm) from Z2 are shown in (c) and (d) for PDLLA and PLA/30-BG, respectively. Glass particles exposed on pore wall surfaces (e) and embedded within the polymer matrix in the pore wall cross-section (f) are further shown for the PLA/30-BG composite scaffold by arrows. The insert of figure (f) shows the compositional analysis by EDX for the glass particles.